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No shuffling； no evasion； no embarrassment； even under this crucial test。
The Colonel was nonplussed。 He led Tracy to a chromo which had suffered
damage in a former owner's hands through being used as a lamp mat； and
said； with a flourish of his hand toward the picture
〃This del Sarto〃
〃Is that a del Sarto？〃
The colonel bent a look of reproach upon Tracy； allowed it to sink home；
then resumed as if there had been no interruption
〃This del Sarto is perhaps the only original of that sublime master in
our country。 You see； yourself； that the work is of such exceeding
delicacy that the riskcoulderwould you mind giving me a little
example of what you can do before we〃
〃Cheerfully； cheerfully。 I will copy one of these marvels。〃
Water…color materialsrelics of Miss Sally's college lifewere brought。
Tracy said he was better in oils； but would take a chance with these。
So he was left alone。 He began his work； but the attractions of the
place were too strong for him； and he got up and went drifting about；
fascinated； also amazed。
CHAPTER XIX。
Meantime the earl and Hawkins were holding a troubled and anxious private
consultation。 The earl said：
〃The mystery that bothers me； is； where did It get its other arm？〃
〃Yesit worries me； too。 And another thing troubles methe apparition
is English。 How do you account for that； Colonel？〃
〃Honestly； I don't know； Hawkins； I don't really know。 It is very
confusing and awful。〃
〃Don't you think maybe we've waked up the wrong one？〃
〃The wrong one？ How do you account for the clothes？〃
〃The clothes are right； there's no getting around it。 What are we going
to do？ We can't collect； as I see。 The reward is for a one…armed
American。 This is a two…armed Englishman。〃
〃Well； it may be that that is not objectionable。 You see it isn't less
than is called for； it is more； and so；〃
But he saw that this argument was weak； and dropped it。 The friends sat
brooding over their perplexities some time in silence。 Finally the
earl's face began to glow with an inspiration； and he said； impressively：
〃Hawkins； this materialization is a grander and nobler science than we
have dreamed of。 We have little imagined what a solemn and stupendous
thing we have done。 The whole secret is perfectly clear to me； now；
clear as day。 Every man is made up of heredities； long…descended atoms
and particles of his ancestors。 This present materialization is
incomplete。 We have only brought it down to perhaps the beginning of
this century。〃
〃What do you mean； Colonel！〃 cried Hawkins； filled with vague alarms by
the old man's awe…compelling words and manner。
〃This。 We've materialized this burglar's ancestor！〃
〃Oh； don't…don't say that。 It's hideous。〃
〃But it's true； Hawkins； I know it。 Look at the facts。 This apparition
is distinctly English…note that。 It uses good grammarnote that。 It is
an Artistnote that。 It has the manners and carriage of a gentleman
note that。 Where's your cow…boy？ Answer me that。〃
〃Rossmore； this is dreadful…it's too dreadful to think of！〃
〃Never resurrected a rag of that burglar but the clothes； not a solitary
rag of him but the clothes。〃
〃Colonel； do you really mean〃
The Colonel brought his fist down with emphasis and said：
〃I mean exactly this。 The materialization was immature； the burglar has
evaded us； this is nothing but a damned ancestor！〃
He rose and walked the floor in great excitement。
Hawkins said plaintively：
〃It's a bitter disappointment…bitter。〃
〃I know it。 I know it； Senator； I feel it as deeply as anybody could。
But we've got to submiton moral grounds。 I need money； but God knows
I am not poor enough or shabby enough to be an accessory to the punishing
of a man's ancestor for crimes committed by that ancestor's posterity。〃
〃But Colonel！〃 implored Hawkins； 〃stop and think； don't be rash； you know
it's the only chance we've got to get the money； and besides； the Bible
itself says posterity to the fourth generation shall be punished for the
sins and crimes committed by ancestors four generations back that hadn't
anything to do with them； and so it's only fair to turn the rule around
and make it work both ways。〃
The Colonel was struck with the strong logic of this position。 He strode
up and down； and thought it painfully over。 Finally he said：
〃There's reason in it； yes； there's reason in it。 And so； although it
seems a piteous thing to sweat this poor ancient devil for a burglary he
hadn't the least hand in； still if duty commands I suppose we must give
him up to the authorities。〃
〃I would；〃 said Hawkins； cheered and relieved； 〃I'd give him up if he was
a thousand ancestors compacted into one。〃
〃Lord bless me； that's just what he is；〃 said Sellers； with something
like a groan； 〃it's exactly what he is； there's a contribution in him
from every ancestor he ever had。 In him there's atoms of priests；
soldiers； crusaders； poets； and sweet and gracious womenall kinds and
conditions of folk who trod this earth in old； old centuries； and
vanished out of it ages ago； and now by act of ours they are summoned
from their holy peace to answer for gutting a one…horse bank away out on
the borders of Cherokee Strip； and it's just a howling outrage！〃
〃Oh； don't talk like that； Colonel； it takes the heart all out of me； and
makes me ashamed of the part I am proposing to〃
〃Wait…I've got it！〃
〃A saving hope？ Shout it out； I am perishing。〃
〃It's perfectly simple； a child would have thought of it。 He is all
right； not a flaw in him； as far as I have carried the work。 If I've
been able to bring him as far as the beginning of this century； what's to
stop me now？ I'll go on and materialize him down to date。〃
〃Land； I never thought of that！〃 said Hawkins all ablaze with joy again。
〃It's the very thing。 What a brain you have got！ And will he shed the
superfluous arm？〃
〃He will。〃
〃And lose his English ；accent？〃
〃It will wholly disappear。 He will speak Cherokee Stripand other forms
of profanity。〃
〃Colonel； maybe he'll confess！〃
〃Confess？ Merely that bank robbery？〃
〃 Merely？ Yes； but why 'merely'？〃
The Colonel said in his most impressive manner： 〃Hawkins； he will be
wholly under my command。 I will make him confess every crime he ever
committed。 There must be a thousand。 Do you get the idea？〃
〃Wellnot quite。〃
〃The rewards will come to us。〃
〃Prodigious conception！ I never saw such ahead for seeing with a
lightning glance all the outlying ramifications and possibilities of a
central idea。〃
〃It is nothing； it comes natural to me。 When his time is out in one jail
he goes to the next and the next； and we shall have nothing to do but
collect the rewards as he goes along。 It is a perfectly steady income as
long as we live； Hawkins。 And much better than other kinds of
investments； because he is indestructible。〃
〃It looksit really does look the way you say； it does indeed。〃
〃Look？why it is。 It will not be denied that I have had a pretty wide
and comprehensive financial experience； and I do not hesitate to say that
I consider this one of the most valuable properties I have